At least one Mosotho man is reported to have been killed by a stray bullet from the police during the escalating attacks on foreigners in Gauteng, South Africa.

In an interview, the Lesotho Consul general in South Africa told LENA that the Mosotho man was hit by a police stray bullet and that he was not attacked.

Mr. Bahaleroe Leleka said his office is still visiting refuge camps, where immigrants in South Africa have sought safety to run away from waves of attacks from the South Africans, but said no more Basotho victims have been found.

He believed that Basotho are not prone to attacks, since Sesotho is one of the official languages in South Africa, while other immigrants are attacked because they cannot speak one of the 11 official languages in South Africa.

Mr. Leleka said they are working with the victim's family to make sure that his (deceased) body is transported back home.

Though South African government and other local authorities are trying to control the situation, many immigrants are exposed to attacks and killings by some of the South Africa’s citizens in many locations in Gauteng due to xenophobia.

Source: LENA 21/05/2008